According to the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture a total of 4,513 hectares of agriculture land was used for horticultural production in 2013
The 4,513 hectares that makes up the Turkish floriculture area is divided into indoor and outdoor plants (3,340ha), cut flowers (1,083 ha) and bulbs (90 ha).
The majority of the hectares are covered with plastic greenhouses; 90% of the indoor plants acreage, 73% of the cut flowers acreage and 86% of the bulbs acreage. Only 5% of the indoor flower acreage and 4% of the cut flower acreage are covered with glass greenhouses. The remaining hectares consist of open field production; 5% of indoor plants, 23% of cut flowers and 14% of the bulb acreages.
The floriculture market is still relatively small. The average expenditure on flowers and plants is around €4 per person per year. People in North and Western European countries spend an average of €50 to €100 a year per person.
The expectation is that economic growth and rising incomes will lead to an increase in the floriculture spending in Turkey.
The consumption of indoor and outdoor plants and cut flowers is growing annually by about 20 percent. Because of the growth of the tourism industry as customers and also the arrival of large retailers, flowers and plants are able to be offered for attractive prices and the demand of horticulture products increased.
In the past the orchid was a luxurious gift, but nowadays it has become a much more common gift.
About 25,000 workers are working directly in the floriculture and about 300,000 workers indirectly. The sector is regarded as a major source of income in rural areas and is essential for poverty reduction and food security.
Photo: Agroberichten Buitenland
Export grows
The export value of horticultural products has grown over the past five years from $ 56 million in 2010 to over USD 83 million in 2014. Turkey currently exports to about 55 countries. Since 2001, Turkey has managed to achieve average export growth of 20% per year. Especially carnation and gerbera are important export products.
Holland biggest import partner
Turkey is not only a floricultural products export country, but also an importing country. The import value of horticultural products has grown over the past five years from $50 million in 2010 to over USD 93 million in 2014. Based on trade data from 2014 it can be concluded that within the horticultural industry the Netherlands is the main import partner of Turkey (USD 8.4 million). Turkey imports the raw materials usually from abroad. However, there is an import quota for flowers and more import is hampered by import tariffs which Turkey uses to protect local producers, this could rise to almost 50% for cut flowers.
Klik hier voor meer informatie over de tuinbouwtentoonstelling EXPO 2016 in Turkije
Bron: Agroberichten Buitenland
